This paper aims at proving an analysis of the relationship between social mobility and the regional migration of graduates in Italy. We first discuss the recent theoretical debate on the brain drain, ...trying to highlight the losses and the potential gains for the region of origin related to an increase in the migration flows. The point is to assess the impact of migration on the level of both human and social capital. Then we consider the relationship between the quality of education and social mobility in Italy. Last we put together our findings and we draw some hypotheses in order to explain the causes and the implications of the migration of young skilled workers from the Mezzogiorno of Italy to more advanced regions of the country.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine originally described as an angiogenic factor. A number of reports have recently demonstrated that VEGF increases pancreatic ...islet survival after islet transplantation by stimulating angiogenesis and improving islet revascularization. Whether VEGF can protect from the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells that characterizes the development of type 1 diabetes is presently unknown. To clarify this issue, we studied the association of three polymorphisms of the promoter region of VEGF with type 1 diabetes in the Italian and the Finnish populations. The polymorphisms considered C(-2578)A, G(-1190)A, and G(-1154)A are known to modulate in vitro and in vivo VEGF expression. We found that VEGF promoter genotypes are associated with type 1 diabetes in both populations, but with different combinations. In Italian individuals, the -2578AA and -1190AA genotypes are associated with type 1 diabetes and accelerate its onset, while in Finnish individuals, -1154GG and -1190GG protect from type 1 diabetes and delay its onset. In conclusion, because the expected functional consequence of both genotype combinations is a reduced VEGF expression in diabetic patients, we propose a protective role of VEGF in the development of type 1 diabetes.
The neuropilins, NP‐1 and NP‐2, are co‐receptors for Sema3A and Sema3F, respectively, both of which are repulsive axonal guidance molecules. NP‐1 and NP‐2 are also co‐receptors for vascular ...endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The neuropilins and their ligands are known to play prominent roles in axonal pathfinding, fasciculation, and blood vessel formation during peripheral nervous system (PNS) development. To screen for additional molecular mechanisms by which Schwann cells and fibroblasts contribute to successful PNS axonal regeneration, we used cDNA microarrays (Clontech) to compare expression profile of multiple messenger RNAs in sciatic nerves distal to transection with their levels in normal sciatic nerves. An evocative result of this screen was a 14‐fold increase in NP‐2 mRNA in the axotomized nerve segments 4 days post‐transection. We verified that NP‐2 is induced in transected as well as crushed nerve segments by quantitative PCR, Northern blotting, and Western blotting, and examined the distribution of NP‐2 expressing cells in injured sciatic nerves by in situ hybridization. Then, we sought evidences of induction in the injured nerves of the NP‐2 ligands, Sema3F and VEGF, and widened our survey to determine whether expression of the functionally related genes, neuropilin‐1 (NP‐1) and its class 3 semaphorin ligand, Sema3A are also induced in PNS following injury. We showed by in situ hybridization induction of all those genes at four days post‐crushed, distally to the lesion. Our results suggest the possibility that the neuropilins and their semaphorin ligands serve to guide, rather than to impede, regenerating axons in the adult PNS.
Painful sensory neuropathies consist of a wide range of neuropathies that can involve large as well as small nerve fibres. Even if most cases remain of unknown cause, some of them may be associated ...with an underlying disorder such as diabetes, HIV, infections, amyloidosis, and Sjogren's syndrome. Since in some cases an autoimmune mechanism has been postulated, we investigated a panel of circulating autoantibodies including anti‐gliadin (AGA), anti‐endomysium (EmA), anti‐transglutaminase (tTGA) and anti‐nuclear (ANA) antibodies in the sera of patients with unexplained painful sensory neuropathies in order to identify other potentially treatable disorders. We tested the sera of 10 patients (4M; 6F) previously investigated for other causes of neuropathies, including anti‐nerve, onconeural, anti‐extractable nuclear, anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic, anti‐thyroglobulin (TgA) and anti‐peroxidase (TPOA) antibodies. We found the presence of AGA positivity in 4 patients (40%), ANA in 7 (70%) and AGA + ANA in 4 (40%), two of whom were negative for celiac disease by gastrointestinal biopsy. None of the patients had EmA positivity. Three (30%) had TgA and TPOA and none had anti‐nerve or onconeural antibodies. Whether the presence of circulating autoantibodies in patients with unexplained painful neuropathy reflects an autoimmune involvement which may be amenable to immune therapy and not only to symptomatic treatment remains to be established.
POEMS syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the combination of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M‐protein and skin changes. The pathogenesis of this multisystemic disease is not ...known. Recently, an association with high levels of serum VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), a multifunctional cytokine that induces angiogenesis and microvascular hyperpermeability, has been reported. Both VEGF and erythropoietin (EPO), an acidic glycoprotein hormone that also promotes endothelial proliferation, are under the control of a transcription factor called hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF). To determine whether these angiogenic factors may have a pathogenic role in POEMS, we longitudinally evaluated VEGF and EPO serum concentrations by ELISA in ten patients during the clinical course and in relation to the therapy response. All patients had initially high levels of VEGF and low EPO concentration and there was an inverse correlation between VEGF and EPO levels during the disease progression. We have also analyzed sural nerve biopsies of seven POEMS patients. The presence of VEGF/VEGF‐R and EPO/EPO‐R immunostaining in the endoneurial and perineurial vessels has been shown, as well as in some of the non‐myelin forming Schwann cells identified as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive cells.
A 48-year-old Caucasian man was found to have a rare neoplastic process of vascular endothelial origin. The clinical presentation was that of plum-colored cutaneous plaques of the lower extremities. ...The histopathology, natural history, and treatment of this case are discussed and compared with previously reported cases. It is suggested that this disease entity represents a malignant state with systemic involvement and a poor prognosis.
PDF